Farm Bureau Foundation Essay Contest Winner Announced

The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture on Thursday announced the winners of its "Agriculture in a Growing World" Essay contest. This national essay competition for grades 9-12 is hosted by the Foundation in partnership with the Nutrients for Life Foundation.

The 2014 essay contest winner is Alexandria Schut, a student at Caledonia High School in Caledonia, Mich. Haden Meagher, a student at Powell County High School in Deer Lodge, Mont., placed second in the competition. Third place was awarded to Kirsten Forester, a student at Rocky Mountain High School in Meridian, Idaho.

As first place winner, Schut will receive $500 from Nutrients for Life. Meagher and Forester will be awarded $250 and $100, respectively.

"The Agriculture in a Growing World Essay contest is one of the many ways we strive to promote agricultural literacy," said Julie Tesch, executive director of the Foundation. "It's a pleasure to reward students for increasing their knowledge of agriculture by studying a Foundation Book of the Year," she added.

The competition requires students to have studied in a classroom that implemented "The Man Who Fed the World," by Leon Hesser, a winner of the coveted Foundation Book of the Year award, and corresponding curriculum.

Essay submissions must address modern agricultural technologies and social, political or environmental issues related to agriculture.

Harriet Wegmeyer, executive director of the Nutrients for Life Foundation, noted, "As we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Norman Borlaug and his contributions, we are proud to partner with the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture to recognize these outstanding students."

The Nutrients for Life Foundation also sponsors the winning teacher's trip to the National Science Teachers Conference as well as grants to further agricultural literacy projects at the winning schools.

The first-place school receives $1,000, second place is awarded $500 and the third-place winner receives $250.